upgrading my 2015 whyte 801

[PradaMTB]

I have a whyte 801 hardtail 2015 model on the cycle to work scheme. I took it to Cannock for the first time this weekend and it took the red route very well. I am happy with the wheels at the minute although i have read that they aren't the strongest wheels??? The Maxxis tires are great in mud and dry too, but the front forks are a little basic. I'm pretty new to MTB, good at riding but clueless when it comes to specs. Can anyone recommend me a set of good forks that fit my frame? I like the double crown forks but they aren't really necessary for my level of riding just yet.

the link to my bike spec is http://whyte.bike/gb/models/crosscountrytrail/x-8-performance-hardtail-27-5-650b/801-2/

I plan on sticking to MTB as a hobby and want to improve my riding skills so that i can confidently take air and drops, knowing i've got a decent spec to my bike will ease the little voice in my head saying don't jump that you'll hurt yourself...

Any advice much appreciated.

 

[DCLane]

I've a 2014 Whyte 805 - basically the same thing but with 3x10 speed SRAM gears.

So far I've not done anything to it apart from matching bottle cage / saddle bag and Crud front & rear guards. I even got some decent off-road tyres and they're sat there unfitted.

 

[PradaMTB]

I looked at the 805 2015 model for £999 but i thought i may as well get the lesser model and use the spare £250 from cycle to work scheme to get some lights/clothing/lock for my work commute, which is a mix of the 5 pits trail from tibshelf to hasland then roads to chesterfield. I'm running 27.5 x 2.2 Maxxis Icons and i can't grumble at them one bit, they keep me on the loose sandy trails as well as the muddy fast downhills i experienced for the first time at cannock. The XC20 wheels aren't the best so i've been told. They use the 9mm quick release which i want to get rid of asap.

Is the 805 Q/R or 15/20mm thru axle? I need a crud catcher too got a little bit of horse turd in my face the other day which wasn't amusing!

Which forks does the 805 use? I've read good things about the rockshox Reba RLT forks at around £300 which i'm willing to spend if they are as good as i've been informed?

At the minute i am a proper noob or as i call it all gear with no idea hahaha

 

[Crackle]

What do you want to do to it?

It's a good frame so it'll upgrade well. You could knock a kg of weight off with new forks and a new rear cassette, new bb, new chainset, more if you changed the wheels. A new fork, like a rockshox air fork, will give you a better ride, torsionally stiffer, more feel but unless you can get one 2nd hand, 27.5 inch forks are still a premium, so £250ish minimum and those xc30's are OK, not great but OK. If you do buy forks then be aware that longer forks will slacken the head angle more and the Whyte is already slack. 20mm longer is about a degree slacker, so a slightly more lazy steering.

New tyres might help you, stock ones are normally supplied to a premium but if it goes and does what you want, you could just leave it and upgrade when things wear. You won't break it doing red routes and beyond.

 

[tadpole]

Isn't the whole point of the 'cycle to work scheme', to use the bike cycling to work. Unless you live in the middle of nowhere, a mountain bike seems a bit daft as a commuter bike.

 

[PradaMTB]

Its all trails from my house to work, 13miles one way, about 5 miles of it involves the roads of chesterfield town centre the rest is the tapton lock towpath and 5 pits trail. I've never been into road bikes and there's nothing on my cycle to work contract saying i can't take it down cannock and give it a hammering... I think the first thing to upgrade are the forks as they really are quite basic, as i said before the tires are great in the conditions ive tried them in, but i haven't tried any jumps yet which could be coming quite soon when my mate takes me to farmer johns.

I'm not too keen on 9mm QR and landing heavily so i intend on changing the wheels for a 15 or 20mm through axle. So basically right now i'm looking for a good set of wheels and front forks to suit

Sorry for the lack of knowledge, I never really expected to get into riding this much, but now i am i need to learn so i don't kill my bike or myself! Money isn't really a problem as i'd rather spend it on something worth while for a change seem to just blow it on beer otherwise!

 

[PradaMTB]

also could anyone recommend a decent set of pedals?

 

[Crackle]

X-Fusion forks are well worth a look. Good reviews for them and should be one in your price range. I have a set on my bike and so far no complaints. Wheels you need to make a choice on tubed or tubeless. I have Superstar wheels, who do a number of different rims, hubs and axles, which you can choose to suit. No doubt others will have other suggestions.